On Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, Upper Dublin seniors Maura Dianno and Sarah Eskew were recognized for committing to continue their track careers at the collegiate level.
Maura Dianno – Emory University (Track & Field)
Major: Pre-Medicine
Final list of colleges: Emory, Lehigh, Lafayette, Bucknell, Colby
Reasons for choosing Emory: “I selected Emory University because I fell in love with the campus and all the school has to offer for my intended major. The coaches, staff and team are extremely supportive, and the program is somewhere I feel like I can thrive academically and athletically.”.jpg)
What was the progression that led you to competing in track at the collegiate level? “I have been running track since I was in kindergarten and have had very influential coaches and teammates along the journey that have led me to want to continue in college. As my high school coach tends to key on, track is truly a mentally and physically tough sport that challenges me every day. Being part of a team and athletics for essentially my whole life, I couldn’t imagine not having that support system in college as well. I kept my options open since sophomore year and attended many camps and tours; however, the summer after junior year I began to really narrow down my school choices and started reaching out to the coaches of programs I thought I could do well in athletically and academically.”
Track coach Matt Dwyer says: “Maura came in as a freshman, and it was interesting because she was contemplating playing lacrosse. She thought she peaked as a runner in eighth grade because she was bigger and stronger than everyone else. When she ran for us, she had a phenomenal indoor season and qualified for the indoor state championships as a freshman. I think we got buy-in right there, which was great. From then, she’s been an integral part of our success. In our two league championships over Cheltenham - even as a freshman, she played a role in three-four events every week. Maura has been a huge varsity contributor for us. She really buys into the team concept, which is interesting. Most kids in track and field at a young age, they’re individuals, they’re not team athletes. Maura is all about the team, sacrificing her own individual events for the team, and I think that’s shown in her progression. She’s gotten better over the years.”
About Maura:
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite TV show: Friends
Favorite artist: Don’t really have one
Sarah Eskew – Rider Unviersity (Track/Cross Country)
Major: Psychology
Final list of colleges: Rider, Millersville, La Salle
Reasons for choosing Rider: “Rider has the psychology program I am looking for, and I really like the team and the coaches.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in cross country and track at the collegiate level? “After making the state meet for cross country junior year, I started to seriously think about running in college. Some schools were reaching out to me, and I made the decision
to continue my running career.”
Cross country coach Tony Giammarco says: “Sarah has been a four-year varsity member of the cross country team, and she has absolutely been the model athlete in every way, shape and form. On the course, off the course, she’s highly competitive, kind of the perfect athlete every coach would want. I think it’s a great thing that she came in as a basketball player in ninth grade, and while still being a very good basketball player has now earned a scholarship in another sport in cross country. I think a lot of that has to do with her athletic ability and commitment to the sport, and it’s been a great pleasure coaching her for four years.”
Track coach Matt Dwyer says: “Sarah’s been great. We haven’t had a ton of track experience with Sarah. She’s more of a cross country/basketball girl. We finally got her last year – she was going to come out, and we were going to get her from day one, and we lost the season. It was kind of frustrating, but her commitment to running is awesome. If there’s an outdoor season, our 4x800 should be good enough to get a state medal or be right in the mix again. Sarah’s going to be on that relay. It’s going to be fun to see what she can do. We have ideas of what she can do – she can run that 8, that mile, that 3K, but we just haven’t seen enough of it yet because she was so raw and so new to it. I think it shows that Rider has complete faith in what she can do just based on what they’re giving her at this point and adding her to the program.”
About Sarah:
Favorite food: French Fries
Favorite movie: The Last Mimzy
Favorite music: Hip Hop or Pop
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